Coronation Street star Chris Fountain has issued a grovelling apology after he was axed from the show after video clips appeared online showing him rapping about rape and violence.

The Yorkshire-born actor, 25, conceded 'ITV had no choice but to terminate my contract' after it emerged that he was the star of the vile YouTube videos under the name of his rap alter-ego The Phantom.

Soap bosses have already filmed a scene to explain the departure of his character Tommy Duckworth, which sees him flee Weatherfield after an argument with his girlfriend Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan).

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Coronation Street's reputation hit a new low this week as Fountain was fired after being unmasked as the rapper behind hate-filled internet videos in which he threatened to rape, batter and stab women

On Monday evening, ITV confirmed that
the actor had been sacked from the soap, stating: 'Chris Fountain's
contract with ITV has been terminated as a result of the unacceptable
comments he made in a number of online clips.'

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'Mortified' Fountain has issued an apology and said he is 'deeply ashamed' of the YouTube videos, which show the actor spouting lyrics about raping women, bombing houses and stabbing people in the face with syringes.

In one distasteful clip, he raps
about dragging a girl upstairs, adding: ‘I will **** anybody up in the
worst way, rape a b***h on her birthday.’

The actor has said the explicit lyrics were 'blurted out in a moment of madness'.

He said in a statement: 'I would like to
sincerely apologise for any offence I have caused. I am deeply ashamed
by the lyrics and very much regret my behaviour.

'The videos were made
over a year ago when I was experimenting with music and I’ve not done
anything like it since and nor will I,' said the actor, who said he accepted ITV had 'no choice' but to end his contract.

Show bosses have decided not to edit
Chris out of episodes he has already filmed so his character, mechanic Tommy Duckworth, will appear on TV this week.

Family soap: Fountain, seen in a scene from the show with co-star Michelle Keegan, will not be edited out of upcoming episodes that have already been filmed

However, on Monday his former co-stars filmed scenes, which apparently showed David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) telling Tina that Tommy had taken a flight after a row with her.

In scenes which are likely to be broadcast in around six weeks time, David tells Tina: 'Tommy proper kicked off. He packed a bag and went off to the airport.'

Over the weekend Coronation Street bosses reportedly urged Fountain to speak out on a television show such as Daybreak or This Morning in a bid to appease fans.

'The lyrics that appeared online were influenced by a style of hip-hop that I was experimenting with at a private freestyle session and blurted out in a moment of madness.

There is absolutely no excuse - I take complete responsibility for my actions - but they were in no way thought out or represent at all my attitude towards women, rape and violence.

I just want to apologise from the bottom of my heart to everyone who I have offended or upset.

I completely understand that ITV had no choice but to terminate my contract today.

I have had two wonderful years playing Tommy Duckworth with only happy memories of my time on Coronation Street.

I am mortified that I have brought so much embarrassment to my colleagues and employers these last few days.

My biggest regret however is not to do with losing my job, but that I have hurt and let down so many people including those in a vulnerable situation and I am so very deeply ashamed of this.

I am also mortified to have put my mother, grandad and girlfriend through the last few days which they are hurt and bewildered by and so do not deserve. I am so sorry. Once again to everyone who I have let down and hurt. I am deeply sorry.'

A source told the Sunday Mirror: 'These videos are disgusting and bosses now need to work out exactly how to handle the situation.

'But while they are furious, they need to make sure his future is dealt with fairly... He is hoping the fact that they are suggesting he might go on TV to make a grovelling apology is a sign that they could see a future for him.'

The source suggested Fountain could appear on several TV shows in order to ensure his apology reached the broadest audience possible, or possibly hold a press conference about the scandal.

But the broadcaster confirmed last night that there was no longer a place for Fountain at Coronation Street.

In one of the shocking video clips the actor performs a
stabbing action while he raps: ‘I’m a nasty ****, I will punch you in
the face and you look like you’ve been having some acupuncture ’cos my
fist is lethal.

‘I’m a ******* hero, you’ve got ******* zero. I’m a mother******* demon, I’ll stab you in the face with a needle.’

Fountain,
who finished runner-up in the third series of celebrity skating show
Dancing On Ice in 2008, also raps about being fed up with fame as he
lounges on a sofa with local rap group the West Yorkshire Cypher.

‘****
with me and you don’t want to risk it, I’ll play you like a board game.
I’m bored of fame so I’m taking the rap game, remember the name, it’s
******* Phantom,’ he raps.

Last
night a spokesman for support service Rape Crisis said: ‘This is yet
another shocking example of the hatred directed towards women by some
men.

'To dignify this with
the name "music" does music an injustice, but the far greater injustice
is that our young people are subjected to lyrics which encourage sexual
violence against women.

‘If
these violent and hate-filled lyrics were directed against other groups
in society, they would be counted as incitement to violence and treated
as a crime.’

Under fire: The 25-year-old actor, pictured at a Corrie party on July 26, has been slammed by charities and women's groups over his offensive lyrics

Faye Maxted,
chief executive of The Survivors Trust, said: ‘He is a high-profile
character. It shows a complete lack of any kind of respect for women at
all.’

Fountain, who has been dating girlfriend Jessica Derrick since 2010, has insisted the controversial lyrics 'in no way' represent his attitude towards women, rape or violence.

Coronation Street producers immediately suspended him from the show, in which he has played mechanic Tommy Duckworth since 2011, when news of his rap alter-ego broke.

Lounging: Chris, AKA The Phantom, raps while sat on a sofa with a group of pals. His video has since been removed from YouTube

Behind the mask: Chris Fountain has expressed his 'deep shame' at appearing in YouTube videos as masked rapper The Phantom

An
ITV spokesman said when the videos first emerged: ‘ITV finds the language used and the views
expressed in this video totally unacceptable. Chris Fountain has been
suspended pending further inquiries into this matter.’

The
former Hollyoaks star has changed his YouTube privacy settings to try
to ensure the series of five videos – already seen by thousands – can no longer be
viewed.

However, other versions had been uploaded yesterday, meaning they were still widely available for viewing.

An
official Twitter account belonging to The Phantom, which reportedly
contained a tweet in which he boasts about killing a rap rival, has also
been hastily removed.

Loved up: Chris with his girlfriend of three years Jessica Derrick at the British Soap Awards in 2012

Out with the lads: Chris Fountain was in high spirits last week when he paid a visit to Eivissa Nightclub in Manchester with a group of pals

But there were still pictures of the actor on the West Yorkshire Cypher
website yesterday, among images of members of the group smoking what
appear to be cannabis spliffs.

Fountain first rose to fame as Justin Burton in Channel 4 teen drama Hollyoaks, before taking part in Dancing On Ice.

In 2008, he won Best Actor at the British Soap Awards for his portrayal of troubled teen Justin in the C4 soap.

In
Coronation Street this year his character featured in a prominent
storyline when his on-screen girlfriend Tina became a surrogate mother in
order to pay her debts.

So different: The actor, pictured with Frankie Poultney, delighted fans with his skating skills on Dancing on Ice in 2008

Soap star: Fountain got his big break when he was cast as teen tearaway Justin Burton in Hollyoaks